The firm told us it “believes that the outsourcing trend will continue within the pharmaceutical sector, with customers driving to reduce the overall number of partners that they use” adding that “the service provider base will continue to see further consolidation in the future with fewer larger providers.”

Aesica also said that it plans to take advantage of this growing demand and aims to grow its revenues into the $1bn (€719m) range through “further strategic acquisitions” and expansion of its European manufacturing network.

Last year, Aesica CEO Robert Hardy told The Journal newspaper the firm's annual revenue is just under £200m.